Naomi Ito in The Celebrants: Character Analysis

Overview: A Quiet Pillar of the Pact

Naomi Ito is one of the five college friends who, after the death of Alec Swigert, formed a pact to throw one another living funerals. She lives in Los Angeles and is a surviving member of the group when Jordan Vargas dies, as confirmed in his obituary. Though the novel gives her less direct page time than the two Jordans, her presence is felt through the pact's history and through the group text chain that Jordan activates in his final months. Naomi has already had her own living funeral in Mexico—a fact referenced by Jordy when he reminds Jordan, “Remember Mexico? You were meant to have nine lives,” to which Jordan replies, “Eight, after that trip.” This single exchange tells us that Naomi's funeral was a real, shared event, and that it left a lasting impression on the group.

Naomi's role is best understood as a foundational member of a chosen family that exists specifically to ensure no one dies with words left unsaid. She is not the protagonist, but she is a crucial part of the mechanism that drives the novel's central theme: confronting mortality with intention and community.

Plot Role: The Pact's Living History

Naomi's primary plot function is as a recipient of Jordan's activation text. In Chapter 6, after a drunken argument at Joe Allen's, Jordan opens his phone and adds names one by one: Naomi, Craig, Marielle, and then Jordy. This text is the moment the pact is triggered for Jordan's own living funeral. Naomi's inclusion in that chain is not incidental—she is one of the people Jordan needs to hear his final words.

Her own funeral in Mexico is a past event that shapes the pact's credibility. When Jordy uses it as a reference point, he is reminding Jordan that the pact has already worked once. Naomi's willingness to sit through her own funeral—and the group's willingness to travel to Mexico for it—demonstrates that the pact is not just a theoretical promise but a practiced ritual. The fact that Jordan remembers it “all too well” suggests it was emotionally significant, perhaps even difficult, but also that it fulfilled its purpose.

In the obituary, Naomi is listed as one of Jordan's “dear friends and the other members of his pact,” placing her among the people who mattered most to him. She is also described as living in Los Angeles, which adds a geographic distance that makes the pact's gatherings all the more deliberate—these are people who travel to be present for one another.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Because the novel does not give Naomi a dedicated chapter, we must infer her motivations from her actions and from the pact's shared history. Her participation in the pact itself is the strongest evidence of her values. She agreed to a promise that requires vulnerability: to hear, while still alive, what impact she has had on her friends. This suggests she values honesty, emotional intimacy, and the idea that love should be spoken rather than assumed.

Her decision to have her own funeral in Mexico also indicates a willingness to confront mortality head-on. She did not wait for a terminal diagnosis; she chose to engage with her own death as a planned event. This aligns with the novel's theme of autonomy in the dying process—Naomi took control of how she would be remembered and what she would hear.

Her continued presence in the group text chain, years after her own funeral, shows loyalty and a long-term commitment to the pact's mission. She remains available to others when they need to activate it. This is a quiet but essential trait: she shows up.

We can also infer a sense of humor or lightness from the group chat's name, “NANA'S HUNGRY LITTLE PIE EATERS,” which Jordan shows to Jordy in Chapter 2. The name suggests inside jokes and shared history, and Naomi is part of that. While we don't know her specific role in creating that name, her inclusion in the chat implies she is a valued participant in the group's culture.

Chronological Arc

The novel does not provide a linear timeline for Naomi, but we can piece together a rough arc from the evidence:

1. Before the novel's present: Naomi, Jordan, Craig, Marielle, and (likely) Jordy form the pact after Alec's death. At some point, Naomi has her own living funeral in Mexico.

2. During the novel's present (2023): Jordan's cancer returns. He shows Jordy the group text chain, which includes Naomi. Later, after a fight, Jordan texts Naomi, Craig, Marielle, and Jordy to activate the pact for himself.

3. After Jordan's death: Naomi is listed in his obituary as a surviving pact member.

This arc shows Naomi as a constant—she is there from the pact's inception, through her own funeral, and remains available for others. The novel does not show her reaction to Jordan's text, but we can assume she would respond, given the pact's purpose.

Relationships

With Jordan: Naomi is one of Jordan's closest friends. He includes her in the group text that activates the pact, and she is named in his obituary as a dear friend. Their bond is rooted in shared history and the pact's promise.

With Craig and Marielle: They are fellow pact members, likely living in Boring, Oregon, as per the obituary. The group functions as a unit, and Naomi's relationship with them is presumably as close as with Jordan, though the novel does not detail individual dynamics.

With Jordy: Jordy is also part of the group text, and he references Naomi's funeral in Mexico. This suggests they have a comfortable familiarity. Jordy's comment about “nine lives” implies he was present at that event and remembers it well.

With Alec (deceased): Alec's death is the catalyst for the pact. Naomi likely knew Alec as a friend, and his loss motivated her to join the pact. The novel does not specify her relationship with Alec, but the pact's origin ties them together.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Decision to join the pact: This is the foundational choice that defines Naomi's role. The consequence is that she becomes part of a support system that will carry her through life and death, and she commits to doing the same for others.

Decision to have her living funeral in Mexico: This decision had a profound effect on the group. It demonstrated that the pact was real and functional. For Jordan, it became a reference point—a memory that both comforts and haunts him. The consequence is that the pact gains credibility, making it easier for others to activate it when needed.

Decision to remain in Los Angeles: While not explicitly a plot decision, her geographic distance means that the group must make an effort to gather. This reinforces the theme that chosen family requires intentional effort.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Naomi embodies the theme of chosen family as a support system through terminal illness. She is part of the network that exists to support members through the end of life. Her own funeral in Mexico is a symbol of the pact's commitment to facing death together.

She also connects to the theme of autonomy and control in the dying process. By having her funeral while alive, she took control of her narrative. She chose what to hear and how to be remembered, rather than leaving it to chance.

The theme of leaving nothing unsaid is central to her character. The pact exists to ensure that no one wonders about their impact. Naomi's participation is a direct expression of this value.

Finally, her presence in the group text chain ties her to the theme of confronting mortality through planned farewells. She is a living example that such farewells can be meaningful and survivable.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. How does Naomi Ito become part of the pact?

Naomi is one of the five college friends who form the pact after Alec Swigert's death. The obituary confirms she is a member, and the group text chain includes her. The novel does not show the exact moment of formation, but it is established that the pact was created to throw living funerals so that no one would be left to wonder about their impact.

2. What is the significance of Naomi's funeral in Mexico?

The funeral is referenced by Jordy when he says, “Remember Mexico? You were meant to have nine lives.” Jordan replies, “Eight, after that trip.” This exchange confirms that Naomi's funeral took place in Mexico and that it was a memorable event. It serves as proof that the pact works, and it becomes a touchstone for the group.

3. Why does Jordan include Naomi in his activation text?

Jordan texts Naomi, Craig, Marielle, and Jordy to activate the pact for his own living funeral. He includes Naomi because she is a pact member and a dear friend. The text is his way of calling on the support system he helped create.

4. What does Naomi's presence in the obituary reveal about her relationship with Jordan?

The obituary lists Naomi as one of Jordan's “dear friends and the other members of his pact.” This places her among the most important people in his life, alongside his husband and family. It shows that their friendship was deep and lasting.

5. How does Naomi's character contribute to the novel's theme of leaving nothing unsaid?

Naomi's participation in the pact—both her own funeral and her availability for others—demonstrates a commitment to speaking love and impact aloud. Her example makes the pact's purpose tangible, and her presence in the group text ensures that Jordan can fulfill that promise.

Interpretation vs. Fact

The novel provides limited direct detail about Naomi's personality, background, or inner life. What we know for certain is that she is a pact member, lives in Los Angeles, had a living funeral in Mexico, and is included in Jordan's final text and obituary. Any further characterization—such as her motivations, emotional responses, or specific relationships—is interpretation based on the pact's purpose and her consistent participation. We should be careful not to invent specifics that the text does not support.

For more on the pact's meaning, see the themes on confronting mortality and chosen family. You can also explore the ending explained or the questions and answers page for further discussion.